Sudan urged to accept UN force as talks falter

The conflict in Darfur is slipping back into major violence as peace talks aimed at ending the crisis in Sudan's western region plunge into deadlock and the UN security council starts to press for UN peace-keepers to replace the African Union.

Up to 70,000 people have fled in recent days from displacement camps where they had settled to escape earlier armed raids north of the city of Nyala. Several hundred more have crossed the border into Chad to seek refuge.

Baba Gana Kingibe, head of the Africa Union Mission in Sudan (Amis), blamed anti-government rebels for starting the latest cycle of violence in south Darfur. "The situation, especially in the past couple of weeks, is a continuing deterioration of security, mostly provoked by SLA [Sudan Liberation Army] elements," he said.

The SLA is one of two movements that took up arms three years ago to demand broad autonomy for the region. Along with the Justice and Equality Movement, a more Islamist group, it is holding peace talks with the Sudanese government in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, under AU mediation.

Mr Kingibe accused the SLA of provoking the new violence by attacking the government-held towns of Shearia on January 16 and Golo a week later. In reprisal, armed camel-borne raiders known as Janjaweed rode into several camps for internally displaced people they say are linked to the rebels. Thousands fled in fear.

The leader of the AU mission repeated calls for the Sudanese government to disarm the Janjaweed. As well as hitting government targets, rebel forces have attacked AU troops and humanitarian workers.

In spite of 7,000 troops, the AU mission is stretched thin across the vast conflict zone, and the US is leading security council efforts to turn it into a UN force with a stronger mandate to confront militias rather than merely monitor events.

In London on Friday the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, urged Sudan's new foreign minister, Lam Akol, to state a willingness to accept the new force. But Dr Akol told the Guardian later: "It is not up to Kofi Annan. The AU peace and security council first has to meet next month to decide. You have to study each proposal on its merits."